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Wallace can't wait for NRL start at Titans

NZ Newswire 10/11/2016Scott Bailey

Gold Coast recruit Jarrod Wallace is relishing the opportunity to be an NRL-level starting prop next year in the Titans' forward pack.

Wallace, starting just 10 times in a 73-game career with Brisbane, is tipped to don the No.8 jersey in 2017 alongside Ryan James.

He met his Titans teammates on Thursday as the team returned to training at their new base at Parkwood International, and said the chance to take the starting role was why he headed south from the Broncos.

"The opportunity to be a starting front-rower was high here," he said.

"Up at the Broncos they still had Sam Thaiday and (Adam) Blairy and (Josh) McGuire and things like that.

Wallace began his junior career on the Gold Coast, debuting with the club in the under-20s.

"I was probably about a 115kg chubby little 16-year-old," he laughed.

He then left for Brisbane for the final year of under-20s with the likes of Luke Bailey standing between him and a first grade spot, averaging less than 40 minutes a game as he helped them to the 2015 grand final off the bench.

"They've pretty much got me to where I am today and my career," he said.

"But I'm looking forward to the challenge, stepping out of the shadow of a few of the boys I've been playing with up there."

Since signing with the Titans in July, the 25-year-old has also seen the likes of Jarryd Hayne and Kevin Proctor join the squad for the 2017 season.

And he admits he's been rubbing his hands together at the prospect.

"When I heard they had signed I knew they were great signings," he said.

"Especially Jarryd, he's a good player and I reckon this pre-season going into next year he's going to be outstanding.

"And look at Kev, he's over in England at the moment playing for NZ. He deserves where he is, he's only going to make the side stronger."